Police reopen Manus case

By Rebecca Kuku
POLICE have reopened investigation into the burning down of a shop which killed 10 Chinese men and women in Manus two years ago.
Provincial Police Commander David Yapu said a team of detectives from Port Moresby went to Manus last week to re-investigate the incident.
The 10 men and women were killed when the Splendid Star shop burnt down in Lorengau in 2017.
Yapu said a police team investigating the incident at the time did not complete their work because of a lack of funding.
“However, the matter was raised again by Manus Governor Charlie Benjamin in Parliament recently,” he said.
“He was assured by Police Minister Bryan Kramer that investigations would be re-opened.
“So a new team is currently on the ground with two Australian Federal Police officers who will be assisting them.”
Yapu welcomed the decision to re-open the investigation because the people of Manus and the Chinese community there deserved to know what really happened.
Yapu urged the people of Manus to come forward any information they have to police.
“This is a very serious case in the history of Manus and I seek your assistance, cooperation and support to provide any information you may have of the incident to the investigating team.”
He said the Government had declared Manus as a free trade zone and “we want to attract foreign investors to come and invest in our province”.
“The province (must be) safe (as regards) law and order for investors to come,” he said.